Rate My Professor Letava Tafuna'i

Dr Letava Tafuna'i, born and raised in Samoa with Fijian heritage, is the Associate Dean Pacific at the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, within the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Division. She completed her MB BS at the Fiji School of Medicine in 2000, followed by a Diploma in Children's Health from the University of Sydney and a Master of Medical Science from the University of Otago. A Fellow of both the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), she possesses over 20 years of clinical experience as a General Practitioner. Her career spans hospital and primary care settings in Samoa, Australia (including Cairns, Canberra, and Wagga Wagga), Auckland, and Dunedin, before returning to New Zealand in 2020.

In her academic role, Dr Tafuna'i contributes to the Takiala Pacific Leadership Network and serves as Co-Director of the Rural Medical Immersion Programme, fostering deeper community connections for Pacific medical students. Her research specializations include immunisation, particularly attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines among Samoans, for which she secured Health Research Council funding, and improving outcomes for Type 2 diabetes in Pacific communities. This work culminated in her Master's thesis, 'Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Samoans in Samoa and New Zealand towards the COVID-19 Vaccine'. As Senior Clinical Advisor Pasifika at WellSouth since April 2023, she authored the Pacific Health Strategic Framework, organized free vaccination clinics across Otago and Southland, and collaborates with providers to address diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and youth prevention. A board member of Etu Pasifika Canterbury and member of the Ministry of Health's Pacific Expert Advisory Group, she advocates for health equity, clinical governance, and encouraging Pacific youth into health professions. Fluent in Samoan and English, Dr Tafuna'i's multifaceted career bridges clinical practice, research, and leadership to enhance Pacific health outcomes.